China in 848 AD is a land of Rebels And Lovers.
Having
read some of the earlier books in this series I was keen
to
find out more. A man called Bao Yang who is wanted in
another province has returned to seek friends in Fujian
province. He encounters a young lady, Jin-Mei, in A DANCE
WITH DANGER. Unlike previous heroines in this medieval
series, Jin-Mei is a well-off young lady living in the
house of her influential father. The suggestion that Jin-
Mei might have been compromised by standing in shade with
a
man is enough to make her father insist on marriage.
Magistrate Tan is a wily man and while he does not draw
attention to Yang's marriage to his daughter, it is
possible that he does not expect Yang long to survive the
wedding. After all, being widowed is a perfectly
respectable state for a young lady, especially if nobody
knows her husband was a rebel. Jin-Mei knows nothing of
this as her step-mother gives her some basic instruction
in
preparing for the wedding night. Rich girls are kept
ignorant. After the polite ceremony, however, matters
don't
even get that far before Yang has vanished, rumoured
killed.
A warlord, General Wang, is a familiar name from other
books, as is the beautiful Li Feng, a sword dancer, and
conspiracies and dangers abound in the densely-layered
atmosphere. Jin-Mei decides to strike out alone, buying
passage on a ship with a bolt of silk, learning to be
capable and decisive. I enjoyed meeting Lady Daiyu, the
ship's captain, willing to aid another woman. All the
ship's crew carry knives, for pirates are on the water -
and they form part of the salt smuggling trade. Simple
meals include rice and egg porridge, while bamboo is a
staple building material, and the wild country outside
towns is referred to as the rivers and lakes. Clay pits
and
potters' kilns are also part of the story, as we see the
backbreaking work needed to fuel an economy.
Jeannie Lin consistently recreates medieval China for us
and brings us larger than life heroes and heroines, danger
and deceits. A DANCE WITH DANGER is a worthy addition to
the adult romance series in which a sampan can carry
warriors or traders and a girl's first love can bring
treachery from where it is least expected. My admiration
for this author continues to grow with each book.
Rebels and Lovers #2 - Sequel to The Sword Dancer A promise sworn on the edge of a sword After a failed assassination attempt on a corrupt general, Bao Yang is a wanted man. Taking refuge with an ally, Yang accidentally compromises the man's daughter when they're discovered alone. To save her honor, he must marry the beautiful Jin-mei immediately! In Yang's arms, Jin-mei feels alive for the first time. She's determined not to lose him, even if it means joining his perilous mission... But when she realizes just how destructive Yang's path could be, can she convince him that their life together could be so much sweeter than revenge?
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